I wonder about the trees.
Why do we wish to bear
Forever the noise of these
More than another noise
So close to our dwelling place?
We suffer them by the day
Till we lose all measure of pace,
And fixity in our joys,
And acquire a listening air.
They are that that talks of going
But never gets away;
And that talks no less for knowing,
As it grows wiser and older,
That now it means to stay.
My feet tug at the floor
And my head sways to my shoulder
Sometimes when I watch trees sway,
From the window or the door.
I shall set forth for somewhere,
I shall make the reckless choice
Some day when they are in voice
And tossing so as to scare
The white clouds over them on.
I shall have less to say,
But I shall be gone.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Robert Frost's poem The Sound of the Trees

17 Comments

  1. Jonathan says:

    Hi Mrs. Cardet!

  2. caroleswynnerton says:

    The poem ia metaphor for suicide. The sound of trees reflecting the sound of voices in ones head that drives them to this act. Hanging causes the head to one side and the feet being pulled to the floor. thus is why the poet will be gone. This act will be carried out when the voices in his head are at their loudest. Makes perfect sense when you marry this idea to Frost’s depressive tendencies, his son’s suicide and the history of mental illness in the family!. A brilliant but extremely sinister poem

  3. Christine says:

    This poem is about choices… When it talks about the trees always being so loud, it is about the people who say they’re going to do many things in life, but like trees, they dont do anything about it. They stay in one place instead of moving forward in life.

  4. Sarah says:

    wow, you guys are way harsh on each other
    i just wanted to know what others thought about this excellent poem.
    i thought poems are about one’s own personal meaning and interpretation of it
    i guess some people think otherwise

  5. Jess says:

    Maybe if u analyz this poem u will get a good glimpse of wat it is all about, people. It is ur oppinion about the poem that matters not n e one elses but if u dont have n e thing good to say then shut up. Robert Frost is a genius and u have to look deep to find it, but its there

  6. Eva says:

    This poem is about the contrast of the trees and the humans. Trees constantly are getting stronger and wiser. Humans may think they are getting wiser but they are not getting stronger. They will be dead when the tree still stands.

  7. Kirah says:

    I haven’t heard this poem in a while 🙂 This was one of the first few poems I ever read.

    And take it easy people, just because not everyone understands your interpretation, or the ‘correct’ interpretation of this poem, at first doesn’t mean they’re ‘twits’ or stupid in any way.

  8. madzia says:

    just one more question… do you know where Poland is?? 🙂

  9. madzia says:

    he he he… I have never heard before about robert frost… but I need some poems about trees( i know this poem isn’t exactly about trees…), because this year I’m going to have the most important exam in my life ( he he he) and if I pass it I’ll end my school 🙂 thats why I’m looking for poems like this one… If you know some books or films or poems about tries please send information on my e- mail address. you have right- frost is great, but I in my life I read poems by better writers than he…

  10. katelyn says:

    im a highschool student doing a report on this poem… i thought these comments might help me, but all i see here is a bunch of Americans dissing wut other ppl have to say. man ohh man what do they teach u down there about manners?!

  11. Frodo Teabagger says:

    I dont care what you people say , Robert Frost is a smart man and all but he just points out the obvious . That is if you truely understand the poems.

  12. John says:

    This Poem is AWSOME! I am doing a report on it and Robert Frost is cool. I don’t care what you say, this is a great poem!

  13. sabrina says:

    hey comment number one kid from mongolia? tree’s don’t have thier own laguage . .ok? and mr UK? i hope ur kidding and what the hell is a plethora? little ms sheba? shut up and go back to listenign to ur backstreet boys mmmk? and Kris w/ a k? high five man . . the frosty is awsome i happen to live 5miles from his trail reserves in VT.

  14. Kris says:

    it’s not actually about trees, you twit! learn to look past your nose when you read poetry… chances are, most poems are not as they seem. for example, this poem is not actually about trees, it is about growing older and wiser and then eventually dying. dont criticize a poet until you actually know what youre talking about. robert frost is a genius.

  15. Sheba says:

    Hi this poem.. i hate it so much.. who would be dumb enough to write about trees?? thats pretty pathetic if you ask me .. i personally dont like robert frost

  16. Hardwin A-Davies says:

    There is something in this poem or something that this poem points to that resonates here.
    In spite of the unending cavalcade of life the author points to stillness
    Where everything blends into a sense of oneness and grace. In a way, which is
    Hard to express, the trees & I share something at the core of our being that I can’t quite seem to get a grasp of but that I recognise unequivocally. So that though I may gallop off into a plethora of scenes throughout life something in the magnificence of the trees causes me to pause and pulls me back to a place that is my undoing.

  17. Marla Micciche says:

    The poems make you think about the trees , and if they really do have there own language .

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